244th History 1981

Year 1981 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

AFCC

244 Combat Communications Squadron

LtCol Gene A. Katke

The 244th Combat Communications Squadron started the year with exercise Border Star 81, conducted 25 March to 8 April. Personnel and equipment were deployed to Holloman AFB, New Mexico by military airlift. LtGeneral Charles C. Pattillo, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Readiness Command, noted, "The professional performance of the 244th reflects great credit on our Total Force Policy and your readiness to serve." The 244th received the United States Readiness Command Joint Readiness Certificate.

Twenty-one members (Major Hallmark and his 20 knight of the desert) participated in the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force exercise Bright Star 82, in Cairo, Egypt, from 2 November to 6 December. The "Air Reservist" magazine had only one thing to say about the 244th: "Twenty-one unit people took their switchboard to Egypt for exercise Bright Star 82 and bedazzled the exercise Commander." The 244th received much appreciation, congratulations and thanks for an outstanding job. General John B. Conaway, Director of the Air National Guard, said, "Please convey my personal appreciation to the members of the Oregon Air National Guard who participated in Bright Star 82. These outstanding men and women of the 244th Combat Communications Squadron and Flight demonstrated the capability to effectively support the mission of the Rapid Deployment Air Force in a most austere environment. Their enthusiasm, cooperation and preparedness to execute assigned tasks was personally observed and noted by me. Such professionalism reflects favorably on the Air National Guard and especially your people. My compliments for a job well done."

Two members of the 244th Combat Communications Squadron, who assisted an Air Force Deployment to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were recognized for their efforts by Colonel M.H. Harpster, DCS for Combat Communications for the Tactical Communications Division.

The Squadron had a First in that, to the best of our knowledge, we are the only unit in the history of the Oregon Air National Guard that went to sea in order to accomplish its mission. In September, the 244th provided four generators in support of the maritime surveillance test of the E-3a (AWACS). Tow members of the 244th spent four days on the Pacific Ocean on a 63-foot fishing trawler, operating the generators.

The 252nd Combat Communications Group awarded the 244th Combat Communications Squadron with the Tributary of the Year Award for 1981.

Members of the 244th again participated in ANG/HAP camp at Camp Rilea, Oregon.

Technical Sergeant George B. Austin was named as the Outstanding Unit Senior NCO, as well as the Oregon Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of 1981. Airman First Class Robert S. Wright received recognition as the Outstanding Unit Airman of 1981.

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1981 Photos

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1981 AG Net Photo 01	1981 AG Net Photo 02	1981 AG Net Photo 03	1981 AG Net Photo 04
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1981 Bright Star Photo 0001	1981 Bright Star Photo 0002	1981 Bright Star Photo 0081	1981 Bright Star Photo 0082
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